Rhodes accepted the coin, absently frowning.
"That's one of the dark secrets not yet divulged by this curious management," he growled. "I'm to go, or so I was told, but have been given no instructions. Where's Singleton?"
"Not that I could notice. Pedro got in from the Junction with last Sunday's papers, and he and Billie have the picture sheets spread around, having a weekly feast."
Kit strode over to his mount, and then halted, glancing towards the house a half mile away, and then at the telephone poles along the wide lane.
"Say, there's a telephone somewhere down here at the works, connecting with the hacienda, isn't there?"
"Sure, in that hallway between the two adobes where the bunk house ends and offices begin."
Kit started briskly towards the long bunk house, and then turned to Pike.
"Do me a favor, Captain. Stay right there till I get back, and don't let anyone take that Herrara horse away, or his load!"
"All right, but load!--why, the spotted rat hasn't got a load for a jack rabbit, load!" and Pike sniffed disdain at the little knobs of baggage dangling from the rawhide strings. He didn't think the subdued animal needed watching--still, if Kit said so----
At the same time Kit was calling the house, and hearing in reply a soft whistle of the meadow lark, and then a girl's laugh.
"Your music is good to listen to, Lark-child," he called back, "and your ears are perfectly good at telling who's who, but this is a strictly business day, and it is Mr. Singleton I need to speak with."
"Still holding your job, or asking for your time?" came the mocking voice.
"You bet I'm holding my job, also I am on it, and want the boss."
"Well, sometimes you know the boys call me the boss. What can we do for you, Mr. Kit Rhodes?"
"I'll use all three of my Spanish cuss words in a minute, if you don't be reasonable," he thundered.
"Is that a bribe?" came sweetly over the wire, and when he muttered something impatiently, she laughed and told him it was not fair to use another language when he had promised Spanish.
"Listen to me, young lady, if I can't get Singleton on the wire I'll get on a horse and go up there!"
"And you listen to me, young man, it wouldn't do you a bit of good, for just now he is nearly having a fit, and writing telegrams about something more important than the horse corrals."